What does it matter if a bunch of people “oppose” me in some vague undefined way. What are they going to do about it? Libertarian law protects me and prohibits them from doing anything to me. Or are you saying that libertarian law will be unable to cope with a mob?
If there are more “bad guys” than “good guys” you’re screwed no matter what society model you set up.
And maybe unicorns run around your yard, with rainbows and glitter raining down.
No it doesn’t. Not if you’re trying to violate their rights.
True, but a society that doesn’t do anything to stop bad guys from running wild is doubly-screwed.
Libertarian society does. It allows the majority of the “good guys” to stop the “bad guys” from running wild.
So a bunch of people could tell Euphonious Polemic he’s not allowed to buy weapons or hire security guards. All they have to do is declare it’s a violation of their rights and it’s legal.
That’s the magical thinking part.
No. But if he uses those weapons or guards to violate their rights, they will oppose him. And there are more of them than him.
My security force are not “bad guys”. They have families and shit. They’re good, solid soldiers,who happen to be very well trained and armed. And I am a businessman. Just trying to run my legitimate businesses here. It’s my right to run my business and hire the best (essentially the only!) security firm in the area.
And you? You’re fired. But you can find another job. Somewhere. Away from here anyway.
Just because it’s unlikely, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
In fact, even with the safeguards we have in place now, the US, and other countries with nuclear power end up losing the type of radioactive byproducts that could be used in dirty bombs every day.
But, hey! Let’s just make it that much easier.
Also, bolster up your charities with huge wads of cash, because your friends and kids are going to go from this to this before too long.
Israel - an example of a peaceful heavily armed society that stops “bad guys running wild” today. And I mean REALLY bad guys running wild.
Ahem. it’s not just me. I’m quite wealthy and my security firm is very good. Excellent. Unsurpassed. They have the best of training and arms.
Don’t like it? Go ahead and (try) to start up your own security firm. Go and get a mob together with sticks and pitchforks to storm my mansion. My firm will try not to kill too many of you.
And anyway, I’m not violating your rights when you gave me your iPhone of your own free will. Right? AMIRIGHT?! SIGN THIS CONTRACT - NOW!
You know, it is unlikely but possible that all the air in the room where you’re sitting is going to concentrate, spontaneously, in one corner, leaving you to suffocate. Are you preparing for that?
Of course. Nobody has any self-control whatsoever. Unless the government controls them.
When I say “heavily armed” society, I don’t mean sticks and pitchforks. And there are more of then than there are of you or your guards.
In what way does Israel parallel Libertopia or otherwise demonstrate that your fantasy world could possibly come true? You don’t really think that Israelis routinely engage in one-on-one armed self defense against transgressors of their property rights, do you?
We’re not talking a couple of overweight security guards here. This is a major firm. They also look after security for the Governor, several judges and quite a few successful businessmen like myself. They don’t just have small arms, they have ready access to helicopter gunships, armored vehicles and some other stuff that frankly you don’t have security clearance to even know about. They’re trained in quick assault, hostage rescue and dealing with all manner of opposing forces. They have lines of communication to the Governors office, the phone company and the court system. the In addition, they have an intelligence team who are quite, quite good at finding out information about any upcoming threats to their business model. And that’s what you and your “heavily armed” group are to them. A threat to their business.
Oh, forgot to tell you… There are a few other major security firms across the country. Perhaps you could go and deal with one of them to sort out your problems with me and my company?
No.
You see, several years ago, we signed contractual agreements with these other companies to only operate in certain defined market zones. They don’t come into our zone and we don’t come into theirs. That is, unless one of our companies is seriously threatened. Then Contract Clause 3b comes into effect, and we can utilize their resources in a Temporary Cooperation Agreement, and crush the upcoming threat.
So it’s all good.
There are more good guys than bad guys…that’s what makes human civilization possible at all.
There are, however, enough bad guys that some government is necessary. The libertarians here have emphasized that they don’t favor anarchy. I am sympathetic to the argument for less government. But I am extremely dubious about their notions of a massive restructuring of our fundamental form of government.
I’ll listen to libertarians when they talk about repealing motorcycle helmet laws.
When they start trying to fund government on donations, they lose me, fast.
Trinopus
And to overcome your armed band of thugs I’ll ally with all the good people over there, and those over there, and that big bunch way, way over that way. And we’ll all pool our resources. Then of course we’ll have to make some decisions about what, where, and when we are going to be fighting. And decide whose business we are going to favor when making our munitions purchases, and procuring our uniforms, and all that. And I suppose our security people will need food, so we’ll have to buy that. And I guess we’ll need to make sure somehow that your security people don’t muck up our food and all, so I guess we’ll have to get somebody to inspect it and keep it under supervision. And I guess we’ll need some standards for those guns we’re going to buy, gotta be sure they actually work, and accept all that ammo we’ve bought. And somehow we need to be sure that everybody on our side is on the same page with each one of these things, and more, as each one comes up. So we’re going to have to, I don’t know, poll them? And tabulate the results of the polls? And what then, what if old Loonie Larry disagrees, do we just shut the whole operation down, or do all of us together over-rule Loonie Larry? And…
Hey, you know what?
We’ve just re-invented government. And democratic government, at that.
Jeeze, I hate when that happens! I was so enthused about Libertopia.
Maybe we should try it again?